New Palestine’s Lauren Appleby dives in last season’s Hoosier Heritage Conference meet. (Tom Russo | Daily Reporter)
NEW PALESTINE — With a roster of 26, 22 swimmers and four divers, New Palestine’s girls swimming and diving head coach Chris Kingery will have lot of options when putting together the most competitive lineup for the upcoming season.
“We’re going to mix everything up and see where everybody lands and what’s going to be the best spot to score the most points during the season,” Kingery said.
The large roster includes just four seniors. Sullie Leavell and Adrianna Huston have been big point-scorers for the Dragons since their freshman seasons. They were both part of, along with junior Chloe Siler, a pair of sectional runner-up relay teams last season.
Seniors Lauren Appleby and Emily Appleby make up one-half of the diving quartet.
Kingery said the veterans will have a newcomer that should help his diving group. Freshman Isabelle Tull was a two-time conference champion at the junior high level.
Leavell, Huston, Siler, junior Rachel Hamilton and sophomore Lillie Abernathy are returnees and key contributors to a strong finish to the 2022-23 season.
All were part of ‘A’ finals either in individual or relay races in last year’s sectional. New Palestine finished second to a powerful Greenfield-Central team in last year’s meet held at the New Palestine Natatorium.
The Dragons were seventh in last year’s Hoosier Heritage Conference meet.
“Our expectations are to compete and give everything we’ve got every meet,” Kingery said. “If we can battle every meet I’ll be a happy camper.”
Piper Schaefer and Ireland Armstrong join Tull as early-contributing freshmen.
New Palestine opens its season Thursday with a home meet against Greenwood and Roncalli.
New Palestine hosts the HHC meet on Jan. 6 and the sectional on Feb. 2 (preliminaries) and Feb. 4 (finals).
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2023-24 New Palestine Girls Swimming Schedule
Date;Opponent;Time
Nov. 16;vs. Greenwood/Roncalli;5:30 p.m.
Nov. 21;vs. Cathedral;5:30 p.m.
Nov. 28;at Greenfield-Central;5:30 p.m.
Nov. 30;vs. Perry Meridian;5:30 p.m.
Dec. 5;at Mt. Vernon;5:30 p.m.
Dec. 9;at East Central Relays;11 a.m.
Dec. 12;vs. Pendleton Heights;5:30 p.m.
Dec. 14;vs. New Castle;5:30 p.m.
Dec. 19;at Shelbyville;5:30 p.m.
Jan. 6;HHC Meet (at New Palestine);9 a.m.
Jan. 18;vs. Connersville;6 p.m.
Jan. 20;at Warren Central Invitational;10 a.m.
